Ever since joining the club from Anderlecht in 2014, Cheikhou Kouyate has been one of West Ham's best and most consistent performers, and he has shown his versatility this season.

While he has often been deployed in the defensive midfield position during his time with the Irons, the Senegal international has also played as part of a three-man defence on a number of occasions for the club this term, with Slaven Bilic opting for a change of formation when results weren't going their way.

The 27-year-old has made an impressive 71 clearances, 48 interceptions and 56 tackles in 18 Premier League appearances this season, and it would have come as a big blow to Bilic when Kouyate jetted off to represent his country at the Africa Cup of Nations - especially after they were thrashed 5-0 by Manchester City in the FA Cup on Friday in the first Hammers game he missed.

The gap he has left will need to be filled in the coming weeks, so here are THREE West Ham players that must step up in his absence...

James Collins

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The Welshman is currently sidelined with a muscle injury he picked up in the early stages of West Ham's 5-1 defeat to Arsenal at the London Stadium last month, but he is expected back imminently and could even be available for the home game against Crystal Palace this weekend.

Despite favouring a 3-4-3 formation towards the end of 2016, when Cheikhou Kouyate was suspended for the trip to Manchester United in November, Irons boss Slaven Bilic reverted to four at the back in his absence.

That continued against Manchester City on Friday, but after the 5-0 drubbing, Bilic could turn to three at the back once again, especially if the experienced Collins is fit enough to start.

Havard Nordtveit

The Norwegian midfielder has often been asked to fill in at right-back when Bilic has changed to a four at the back in the absence of Kouyate, but it doesn't seem to be a position that is completely natural to him, as we saw in the defeat to Manchester City on Friday.

The former Borussia Monchengladbach man bundled Bacary Sagna's cross into his own net for City's second goal of the night, and the 26-year-old will need to put in a far more convincing performance against Crystal Palace this weekend if he is selected in the starting line-up.

Reece Oxford

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Oxford burst onto the scene with some impressive performances at the start of the 2015/16 season - including a mature display in the win against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on the opening day of the campaign - but little has been seen of him since.

The 18-year-old has only featured in two of the Irons' matches this term - both in the Europa League back in August - but with Kouyate jetting off to Gabon for the Africa Cup of Nations, he could be called upon by Slaven Bilic this month.

The youngster was named on the substitutes' bench for the loss to Manchester City, and he will be hoping that the poor performance will mean that he gets another chance in the first team sooner rather than later.